To save money, many teams (even the wealthy Lakers) have decided to carry short rosters -- just 13 players, instead of the allowed 15. On opening night, there could be 30 or 40 fewer NBA jobs than a year ago. At the same time, dozens of draftees and imported free agents (everyone from David Andersen with the Rockets to new Bull Jannero Pargo) have already filled roster spots.

As of this morning there are 381 signed players. If every team sticks to a roster of 13, just 24 more will get contracts. (As many as 71 could get jobs -- that would put every roster at the maximum 15).

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No league is harder to break into than the NBA. Some of the names of serviceable players who may not have jobs when the season starts (here's the full list):

So guys who have done little in their careers have jobs because of guaranteed contracts while serviceable vets as well as promising D-Leaguers like Courtney Sims, Rod Benson, Antonio Meeking, Derrick Byars and others have to go to Europe or minor leagues to get playing time.

A few years back, when the NBA was instituting the age minimum for draftees, the justification was that the influx of high school kids was detrimental to the quality of basketball. I would argue that teams keeping Jerome James locked to their bench simply because he has a guaranteed deal is more damaging than the mistakes an athletic and promising 18-year-old would make on the court.